Cooker



S. DAWSON March 27, 1945.

COQKER Filed Aug. 2l, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

S. DAWSON `March 27, 1945.

COOKER INVENTOR'. awon/ 4 Sheets-Shea# 2 .Sid/z@ Filed Aug. 21, 1941/4/5 A rra/:Ney

S. DAWSON March 27, 1945.

COOKER 2l, 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 l /l /I IN VENTOR. awso/z/ BY dwf/y vMarch27, 1945.

S. DAWSON COOKER Filed Aug. 21, 1941 4 SheetS-Sheet 4 'Ill-Ill'.

511i@ BY MHZ/ Ar ORA/fyi drive action.

Patented Mar. 27, 1945l y l UNITED STAT Es yein*Leni OFFICE comme vSidney Dawson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Richard Groetchen, Chicago,

` Application August 2.1, 1941,*I Serial No.407,748 (c1. 1,26%41) l 14claims.

This invention relates to cooking implements, more particularly to anautomaticy cooker, and has for one of its objects the lprovisionof animproved structure Whichwillbereconomical in manufacture andconstruction and highly efl cient in use.

One of the salient objects ojfmy present inven f tion is toprovide acooker having a circular housing divided into a pluralityofcompartmentsconstructed to provide a through draftthrough the housing,whereby to utilize the maximum heat efficiency from a common heat sourceandV to establisha transient heat through thev cook-`- ing4`compartments.

Another object ofthe present invention is to provide a novel dividingwall between the broiler chamber and preheating chamber which dividingwall -eiects a heat refraction as well as a baille whereby heat producedby the burner structure will be intensified at the crucial point ofcooking. It is still. another object of my invention to provide a commondrive for a pluralityy of food supporting grilles to produce a constantmove` ment of such supported foods through a cooking operationin apredetermined time.

A further object of this invention is to provide' a friction drive forthe rotatable grilles whereby to prevent injury to the device yintheevent-of a jamming of rarticles on the grillerv aswell as to permitareadymovement of such grilles by.l hand.

tochange their position relative -to the ordinary A still further objectof the heat re'ecting means togetherwith food conperiod of cookingwithout need for cleaning at short intervals, such structure, however,being readily accessible'forcleaning purposes as and when desired. v f

Other objects and advantages will `become, more fully apparent in viewof the descriptionl to follow when read in the light of the accompanyingdrawings wherein: Fig. "1 is a front elevational viewofmy Fig.' 2- is ahorizontal sectional View, partly in plan, taken through-the 4upper orpreheating chamber alongline 2-2 inv Fig. 1;`

Fig-Sis ahorizontal sectional View, partly in ,plan, taken through thebroiler chamber along line 3--3 in Fig. i; `Fig. 4 is a horizontalsectional View, partly in plan, Vtaken through 'the utility compartmentalong line d-iin Fig. l;

i'lig'. 5 isa vertical sectional detail through the entireco'olzerrassembly and is taken looking in tlfieidirect-ionv ofl the arrows alongline 5`5 in .1"e,"j3 v y' Fig; 6 is an exploded perspective assembly,

partly in section, illustrating the stack'collar and upper support forlthe commonl driv'ershaft seenv infiig.V 5;

7 is 'anexplodedperspective assembly, partly -jinsection illustratingthe relation of a rotatablegrille disc Ato the cone or friction'drivearranged on the common drive shaft;4

v present invention is to provide a novel arrangement-of burnerandtaining vessels whereby tov attain aftemperature. v

of sufcient intensity to. assure alcomplete cookiing of the food in aminimum 'of time.

The invention contemplates acombinationiof. parts which will facilitatecooking of what is generally .known as short orders such as steaks,l

chops,'half chicken, bacon, eggs 'and the like vand to retaininsuchfoods all of thejuices and fla-n vors so as, to. produce deliciousand palatable edle bles containing al1 ofthe nutrition found intheoriginal food in its raw or iiricooked'state.`

A more particular object ofl the present invention is to provide meansfor` producing an in-' tensied heat by which a penetrating and lseep--ing cooking process is carried intoV effect inthe;

shortest space of time assuring appromptfserving of ordersof cookedfoods without anyundue delay. The construction of they present deviceresults in a cooker which will remain clean over along" Fig. B is afragmentary perspective View, partly inv section, and showing theassembly of the rotatablecominon drive shaft and its power takeoytogether with the slip connection with the fuel vsupplylin'e (bottom ofFig. 5)

""Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective vieu/partly in ,section,illustrative of the burner assemblyiormin the'mid-portion of Fig. 5;

. broiling operation;

Fig; V12 isa perspective viewof ka casserole dish, suchfas is seen insection in Fig. il, for retaining the substance to be heat treated; and'i Fig. l131s a. perspective viewy of a spade utilized bythe operator4of the present cooker to vmove lnew casserole dishes about in theprocess of feeding and unloading the cooker.

The cooker is generally indicated at I and consists of a cylindricalcasing II arranged on a set of legs I2. Referring particularly to Figs.1 and 5, the casing II is built in -three main sections to provide autility chamber I3 shown in Fig. 4 having a top wall I4 which comprisesa lower wall for a cooking and broiling chamber I5 shown vin plan viewin Fig. 3, above which is arranged a heat reflector I6 of refractorymaterial to form a dividing line between the chamber I5 and an uppermostcompartment I1 which comprises a preheating chamber, best illustrated inplan in Fig. 2.

The casing II is built upon a bottom frame I8 (Fig. 4) supported on thelegs I2 and having an annular fianged ring I9 with radially arrangedcross bracing 2l) formed integrally at their point of convergence With awebv 2I extending diametrically across the frame I8 to provide a supportfor certain drive means later to be explained. Extending upwardly fromthe frame I8 along the annular ring I9 are a. plurality of strut members22 having their upper ends flxedto a depending flange 23 on the top wallI4 which is in the form of a circular partition.,

Arranged on this partition I4, along its peripheral edge, is a flangedring 24 which is bolted at intervals to the partition I4. Strut members22 are arranged on the iiange ring 24 to extend upwardly therefrom andhave their upper ends fixed to a ring 25 similar to the ring V24 butinverted'so as to provide a depending flange. Thus is formed the framework for the intermediate or broiler chamber I5.

Another flanged ring 26 similar to 24 and 25 is arranged above and isbolted to the ring 25 to provide a base upon which is arranged strutmembers 22" supporting at their upper end an annular ring 21 withdepending flanges 21 thus forming the frame work for the preheatingchamber I1. This upper chamber I1is lined with a sheet metal 28 .and isprovided with a door opening 29 in which is mounted a frame 30 adaptedto hingedly sup-port a door 3|.' A heat insulating material 32 is placedin the segmental spaces between the struts 22" and an outside dressingof sheet metal 33 arrangedfaround the frame work.

The intermediate chamber I5, like the chamber I1, is both lined andcovered with sheet metal 23 and 33' respectively, within which is placedthe heat insulating material 32. This compartment being the actualcooking and broiling` chamber is provided with a series of openings bestillustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, wherein it will be seen thatthere are apair of openings placed one above another, the upper ones beingindicated as R, M, W and E reading from left to right, and the lowerones indicated as R', M', W and E respectively. Each of the openings R,M, W and R', M', W' is provided with a suitable frame 34 adapted tohingedly support a door 35 having a glass panel through which theinterior of the chamber I5 is visible. have one common frame 36 forreasons hereinafter to be explained.

The utility compartment I3 is merely covered by an loutside dressing 33Vand is provided with an opening 31 having a frame 38 for hingedlysupporting a door 39.

As Was hereinbefore stated, the chambers I5 and I1 are divided by a heatreecting partition top frame 53 having an annular ange 54 which.

I6, the construction of which will now be explained. Reference being hadto Figs. 5 and 10, a anged ring 40 is arranged on a three point supportin the form of radially extending pins 4I carried by brackets 42 in turnxed to strut members 22 at desired positions as shown in Fig. 2. Aninner ring 43 having a flared disc flange 44 is supported concentricallyof the ring 40 by means of radially extending brackets 45 having theirsegmental and depressed inner ends 46 attached as at 41 to the disc 44to allow a partial extension thereof beyond the ends 46, the outer endsof these brackets 45 lying on top of the upstanding ring 4i) andpreferably, though not necessarily, flxed thereto by Ibrazing orbolting.

The foregoing constitutes a supporting frame for the refactory materialI6 which is made up of an annular row of blocks of refractory materialarranged on the horizontal ange of the inner ring 43 and also one on thehorizontal ange of the ring 40 to provide an inner and an outersupporting ring, the first of' which comprises a plurality of'arcuatesegments 48 having a supporting ledge 48' and the second of whichlikewise comprises a plurality of segments 49 conforming to the arch ofthe ring 40 and having a supporting ledge 49. Spanning the ledges 48 and49 are a plurality of slabs 5I) in segmental form having an overlappingprojection 5I adapted to overlie the abutingjoint between adjacentslabs, each slab having a concavity 52 formed in its outer peripheraledge to provide a by-pass for air circulation as will appear morereadily hereinafter.

To complete the casing II there is provided a is adapted to t down overthe upper edge of the cylindrical wall of the pre-heating chamber I1 toclose the upper end thereof and to provide a centrally located collar 55upon which may be arranged a stack or flue 56 to conduct-fumes andexhaust hot air away from the cooker. This frame has insulation material32 arranged between its interior and exteriar metal dressing and isremovable as a unit from its inserted relation with respect tothecylindrical wall.

Trim bands 51 surround the casing II at the dividing lines of theseveral compartments and to otherwise give the outer dressing a neat andpleasing appearance. f

Having thus described the casing II, I shall now explain the embodimentsof the utility compartment` (reference being had to Figs. 4 and 5). Themain purpose of the utility compartment is to house the various controlinstrumentalities including a drive means consisting of an electricmotor 58 supported on the web 2l and having drive connection through themedium of a belt and pulley arrangement 59 with a speed reducing unit60. This latter unit 60 is fixed to the web 2l and includes a gearmechanism (not The'openings E and E arranca ments .going .tojmake lupithe .rotarycooker unit of my :present invention. The lburner unit forms'the subi ect .matterfof '.my cci-pending .application Serial No407;FI49, iiled August 2.1, il94l,.on even dateherewiith.

Ther tubular shaft .6'4 heretofore mentioned iin addition .to being 'arotatable shaft is :also ."a 'conduit through 'which l'fuel .'gas isvsupplied to la Imain burner 1|. The supply of fuel gas .entersthe shafti611 through ports :'12 formed inlits unidse'c'tion wherea't there isarrangeda T connection which V.permits :rotative movement of the shaftGli-'and `at'th'e same 'time assures a constant 'now of ruelfromfaixed'sourcefof supply. ThisT connection listhreadably connected "to .a.pipe vlength P .havingsa cock valve A'I3.arrangedfon fan :instrumentpanel L1A xedly supported withinthe :utili-ty compartment `|3 and havingits control-side 'ace 'cessible-ithrough thedoor. opening 31. The valve:1.3 controls the lfuel flowage from a supply ypipe 1&5.` 'Thelconnection `T provides fa-'cylindrical chamber' '|-6-a'round -`theltubular shaft '-64 in the region fcf the ports 1,2 and is providedwithiafpack'e Ying-sleeve 11 'at each end, coaxiallyv with fth'e shaft'6'4 to provide an adequate seal under 'nor'-1 mal gas pressure; I ThisT 'connection is supported in its vertical position by a f-pipe bracket:'18v suspended from the 'under side vofthe :partition |4,and carryingIthe `pipe length P just lad* jacent its-pointof entry ii-nto'the Tconnection. 'The lupper lend of `'the tubular shaft 64 brazed thereon laange e1ernent19 -fbest illus: trated in Fig. 9. An opening O is formedinthis 'flange '-19 'coaxially with. the sli-aft and arranged 'in thisopening 0 is va bushing having a relatively :small orifice 80 formedtherein. This oriiice iiange 19 has a raised .shoi-ilderiormation 19"upon which is mounted lay-'suitable stud'bolts the lower `-flange l8'|of ta fdouble Yiia'nged casting comprising van air inlet chamber 82,there being a :pair of openings 83"formed in the :side walls ofthis-mixi'ngfohamber 82 adjacent the orice 28.0. The mixing chamber 9.2 lis:restricted immediately above the openings 'toiform a Venturi tubeadjacent the .upper flange `:84 'on the double ilanged casting, iinwhich Venturi tube #85:.the fuel gas -emitted from the 'orice `'8D 4andthe air fentering the openings A8`3 are :properly .combined .to rendersuch mixturecombustible. Athirdanged casting I816 is arranged above 'thetwo foregoing adapted to be rotatably'rsupported in the ring :43 forminga part .fof :the supporting .frame for :the -refactory partition 1Ii6.`Enns it iis seen vthat 'the entire burner :structure .is :rotatably:arranged .within the casing i|f| .for .rotative movement 'Lby the'driveshaft l|i|. AIt y'will be ,noted that the mixing .chamber `82 isyarranged in the utility compartment. .|.3 where there is always alfreshsupply .of :air Lfor entry .into the openings 83 of .'-th'e :chamberY82, :and V.that the burner 1| .is positioned .'closely :adjacent the:refractory material IB forming an -upper v-Wall v'of the .broiler.compartment |5. 'Themartition .forming lthe Lbottom wall 10i thecompa'rtrnent L|5 `has forme'd therein .sacentral 'opening 19| having antupsta-nde ing '.nange ring .92.

".I'hethird hanged casting -86 .haszfornre'dithere- Ion' fafrust'o-rconical `boss 193 which `surrounds the Itubular A.shaft 64"...A ytri-spoked 'casting termed "a spider `94 .having `a .hubrforination95 with .an interior-frusto-'conical opening 96 complementary to Itheboss .193 iis adaptedto .fitupon .thellatter toV .constitute .a friction`drive .for 'a .circular grille plate 91 'which is adapted -to .befcarried .bythe spider :94. The grille plate 91 is preferably a .casting.having .a series of radially disposed :spoke Ielements 98 joined.atjthjeir outer ends .to an rannular ring 99 and at their inner '.end'sto @a central ringfand .collar |199 .providing .a

central .opening :substantially .greater in diameter than the outerdiameter fof thelburner 12|. 'The inner-wall :of the ,collar |00 is'provided .with spaced 'lugs |l|l2| `adapted to. interlock "with the'outer'.ends of the spokes 94v on the .spider 94 and to rest upon zahorizontal .flange '94" of Jsuch spokes.A The .foregoing :structure isarranged .in .a horizontal 'plane just :above the lower wall|4 ofthebroiler chamber I5 so as to be accessible through the openingsR., M, W'and E .and :is .typical-10i the construction .of Aother rotatable grille:plates in `the ydevice as will be readilyseen 'in y'1'ig. 7. Anothersuch .grille v9'1 and lspider 94 assembly is larranged Von .a Vfrictioncone 93 van :annular lextension F lprojectin'g-1upwardly from the burnerlproper. portion 99 is a'rranged-a-hdaiiia-liwith-ithefishafts Ell-+642and vis Whichis lfixed by .means joffa set screw ,to the tubularshaft:64' immediatelybelow the :burner 11| :to -support a- :rotatable Igrille91 for 'access through openings R, M, W and E inspaced rela- -tin withrespect tothe reflector plate |.6 `to .attain the full benet of heat.reflected therefrom.

y Aplurality of-grille plates 91 are rotatably arranged in theV.preheating chamber, each .of them being accessible through the opening29 and having support on ya vspider 94 :which :in turn is frictionally.coupled to a 'drive cone 93W.' These drive cones 93` are :xedlyarranged on a shaft .64" whichis .in l axial alignment with the shafts64 .and .94'. andyvhichshaft 64 has 'at its lower vend la squarecoupling key |03 'adapted to be arranged ,-in a square opening |04formed in the axial extensiongon the vburner The upper end of the fshaft6.4" is .rotatably Supported .in a bearing-|05 supported by `radiallyextending legs |96 which rest upon the upper edge of the stack .fcollai55 (seeFigs. 5r and 6). .By this farrangement itvvill readily vbe seenthat all of the grille plates `91 are rotatable with the drive shafts64- 64' andiill` and rthat anything carried by 'these grille `,plates791 will likewise rotate therewith.

, -On each of -the-collars =|901of the broiler {comlpartnrent'grilleplates 91 there is :arranged an v annular .ring |92 which rings .-aswill tbe noted fin rating withfthe utility compartment |13. iandtheburner 1I so as to supply oxygen to the place of combustion and thuseliminate the danger of monoxide gas being generated or storing upwithin the cooking and preheating chambers.V The grille plates in thelatter chamber I1 are likewise provided with annular rings |02' butthese normally form a baiile tending to keep the heat out in that areaof the grilles 91 Where the carrying of articles is accomplished; risinggases nally exits 'through the stack 56 where a constant draft ismaintained assuring a circulation from bottom to top of the device.

The outside of the casing II is provided with suitable counters orshelving there being one indicated as |01 arranged below the lowermostopenings to the broiler compartment I5 and suitably supported onbrackets |08. This shelf |01 may be termed a loading platform asdistinguished from a discharge station which comprises a pair ofsuper-imposed shelves one of which is l indicated at |09 and the otherat IIO. The discharge shelf |09 is arranged in the same horizontal planeas the lowermost grille plate 91 in the broiler chamber I5 While theshelf IIO is in the same horizontal plane as the uppermost one of thegrille discs 91 in that chamber.

As is best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5 there is provided an ejectordisc III at each of the lev els of the shelves I09 and IIO which discs"III are keyed as at II2 to the auxiliary drive shaft 69 which normallyrotates in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of thegrille 91 as is indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3, the exit ing radiusof the ejector discs II'I passing through the opening E or E', as .thecase may be, the frame 36 to such openings being provided with ahorizontal slit or opening I I3 to permit passage of the entering radiusof such discs III into the broiler chamber I5.

There is employed in my new cooker containers or casseroles II5 bestshown in' Fig. 12 which casseroles II5 are placed on the grille plates91 in the preheating chamber in numbers.

To facilitate handling of these casseroles II5, there is preferablyemployed a spade IIII shown in Fig. 13. At the commencement of a cookingperiod the valve 13 is turned on and the fuel emitted from burner 1Iignited. A second or auxiliary burner IIB is arranged in an arcuate slotIII. formed in the partition I4 and on straps II1 which burner II6 isunder the control of a separate valve vI I6 on the instrument panel 14.Both of the burners 1I and I I6 are ignited and a number of emptycasseroles II5 having been deposited in the upper or preheating chamberI1, the motor 58 is started by means of an electric switch I I8 on thepanel 14 whereupon the shaft 64 will be rotated and with it the burner1I as well as the grille plates 91. When the interior of the casing IIreaches a desired heat, for best results usually 400 F. in thepreheating chamber I1 and approximately '100 F. in the broilercompartment I5, the device is in readiness for cooking operation.

Assuming that an order has been placed for a steak, a casserole II5 istaken out of the preheating chamber with the spade II4, a bit of butteror other substitute placed therein and the raw steak deposited in thecasserole. The heat of the preheated casserole will sear the downface ofthe steak thus browning the same to a desired hue. The casserole is thenplaced in the broiler chamber through any one of the openings R, M, orW; R in the event a rare steak is desired; M should the customer want itmedium rare and ISO W for a well done steak; the diiference in each casebeing the period of time that it will require the casserole to travelfrom a particular opening to the fixed exit E. For the broilingoperation attention is directed to Fig. 11 wherein there is illustrateda casserole with steak therein and l positioned beneath the refractorywall I6. It being remembered that the burner 1I and grille 91 areconstantly rotating in a clockwise direction, it will be noted that thethoroughly consumed fuel gas casts a flame comingling with air risingfrom the air shaft A, both along side of the burner 1I as well asthrough the spaced openings 1I in the burner assuring completecombustion and eliminating all monoxide gases. The heat from this flamestrikes the lower wall of the refractory material I6 and is reflectedalong lines substantially as indicated diagrammatically by the dot-dashlines and arrows down upon the slowly moving casserole and steak. Someof the'heat is transmitted into the casserole which is preferably madeof a highly heat conductive material and as indicated by the arrowswithin the bottom of the casserole such heat is passed up into the Afoodbeing cooked. The heat at this broiling position is extremely intense byreason of the arrangement of the burner 'II with respect to therefractory plate which assures that a maximum heating eiciency will beobtained in the food being cooked within the time it takes the casseroleto reach the exit E. It has been discovered in this arrangement bypeering through the door 35 that all or any tallow in the meat iscompletely burned up before the food reaches the ejector m, whichburning of the tauow re- In the case of fowl or other meats requiring alroasting or penetrating heat such food after hav ing passed through theforegoing operation of the broiler may be placed in any one of the lowerdoors R', M', or W where the heat rising from the auxiliary burner II6together With that of the burner 'II will have 4a more penetratingeffect on the meat and the juices therein resulting in a cooking to thebone. Such dishes are likewise discharged by an ejector disc III ontothe lower shelf |09 ready to be served.

The preheating chamber may be utilized as an oven for baking by placingpotatoes or the like in a casserole at any of the levels provided by theseveral grille discs 91. One of the advantages of the friction drive onthese grille plates 91 is that upon opening the door 3I the operatorneed not wait until a desired tray or casserole is exposed at the opendoor 3l but may grasp the rim 99 With a suitable heat-resistant pad androtate the grille by hand Without affecting the ordinary driving actionon the other grilles. Also in the event several casseroles became jammedon a grille plate 91, between the inner wall of the casing II and theannular rings I02I02 within either the heating chamber I5 or thepreheating chamber l1, a stoppage of the grille 91 will in no wiseaifect the drive means or over- A load the motor.

52. at the periphery of the refractoryslabs '50, together with the stack56, there is a constant circulation through the cooker housing, therebymaking the heat generated by the burner 1I' a transient heat rather.than a static heat as is found in cookers heretofore known.

yIn. accordance with ordinances prevalent in local communities thepresent device is constructedso that the burner ,structures may bereadily removed for inspection and cleaning. As. was heretoforeexplained in view of Figs. 4 and 9 the burner 'H is centrally mountedwithin the casing Il. In order to remove theburner 'll the bolts at theflanges T9 and: 8|- are unscrewed and theA entire shaft 64' raised upincluding the spiders 9,4 and the grilles 91. The grilles in thepreheating chamber are rested on blocks (not shown) asr are the grilleplates 91 inthe broiler chamber. The shaft '64 with the burner head 'llcan.y then be lowered as a unit including the spiders 94 which are nowdetached fromengagement with the ring HID and the lugs lill therein. yInits. .downward or withdrawal movement the burner unit is tilted with theVenturi casting olfset from. the main drive shaft '574 until the burnerhead .ll passes below the opening 9| formed in the wall: 1 4A whichdivides the chambers i3: andlSl from each other. Thev burner unit. isthen clear for inspection and cleaning and may be reassembledinto,Operative position by a reversal of the-foregoing steps of detachment.'

' The auxiliary burner H6 is built in two sec.- tions as willbe seen inFig. 3. and by merely shifting.J them in a. direction away-from theirfuel sup- Vreflecting means, and grille means arranged inply-they toomay be removed for inspectionand' cleaning. Having thus described my'cooker it; will be apparent that I have provided a novel arrangement-ofparts which cooperate to produce amaximum and efficient heat in aminimum of time to speed up presentfday short order cooking as well asto guarantee a uniformityof result;

vWhile Ik have illustrated andk described the .preferredy form ofconstruction for carrying myin.

vention into effect, this is capablefof variation and modificationwithout departing vfrom the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, donotwish to, belimited tothe precise detail's'of construe-. tionl setforth,`but desire to avail myselfof such variations and modifications ascome within the scope of the appended claims. y

Having thus described my invention, what 'I claim as new and desiretoprotect by. Let-tersfPatent is:

1. An automatic cooker including a casing com@ prising a. utilitychamber, a broiler chamber and a preheating chamber, a hollow'shaftconstituting a fuel conduit and arranged in said casing forrotatable movement with respect thereto, a burn.1

ver arranged on said shaft adjacent its upper: end, drivemeans in saidutility; chamber for rotating said shaft, heat reflecting means formingay par'- tition, between the broiler chamber and said prez-Y heatingchamber and adapted toreceivezthe flame from, said burner, means forsupporting saidg heat reflecting means and for providing a bearing forthe upper end. of Said shaft, a. rotatable. .grille arranged in saidbroiler chamber; andmeanscafr- ,rien by said shaft.. for.; rotatablysurnortnasaid grillefor movement with said shaft. v

- 4 An automatic cookerincludinga casing, heat reflecting means dividingsaid oasig'into. abroiler chamber and a preheating chamber, a.r tubularshaft comprising a conductor means for fuelA and arranged coaxially insaid casingfonrotatable movement, drive` means in the casing andsupporting ther lower end of said tubular shaft for rotatable movement,burner means arranged at the upper end of said tubular shaft and havinga portion thereof rotatably journaled in sai-d heat heating chamber andadapted to receive the flame from said burner,` means for suppo-rtingsaid heat reflecting means and for providing a bearingforA the upper endof said shaft, a rotatable grille arranged insaid broiler chamber, meanscarried by said shaft for rotatably supporting said grille for movementwith said shaft, said casing having an l. opening in its upper walladapted to communicate with a stack, said shaft having an extensiondrivingly connected thereto for rotation therewith and extending to theupper wall of said casing, and means on said extension for rotatablysupporting a plurality of grille plates within said preheating chamber.

4. An automatic cooker including a casing comprising a utility chamber,a broiler chamber and a preheating-chamber, a hollowshaft constitutingal fuel conduit and arranged in said casing 'for rotatable movement withrespect thereto, a burner arranged on said shaft adjacent its upper end,drive means in said utility chamber for rotatingsaidshaft, heatreiiecting means forming a, part-ition between the broiler chamber andsaid vpreheating chamber and adapted to receive'the flame from saidburner, means for supportingv said heat reflecting means and forproviding a bearing forv the upper end of said shaft, a rotatable grillearranged in said broiler chamber, means carried by said shaft. forrotatably supporting said grille for movement withsaid shaft, saidcasing having an opening in its upper wall adapted to communicate with astack, said shaft having an extension drivingly connected thereto forrotation therewith and extending to the upper wall of `said casing, abearing for the upper end of said extension and lnormally disposed insaid opening in the upper wall of the casing, and means on saidextension for rotatably supporting a plurality of grille plates withinsaidv preheating chamber.

5. In a rotary cooker a casing including a top wall having an openingformed therein, means dividing the casing into separate compartments,one of saidmeans comprising a heat reflector and providing a centralbearing, a tubular shaft mounted in said casing, a burner meansincluding a boss portion and mounted on the upper end of vsaid shaftanddisposed in closeproximity to said grille means ineach of saidcompartments and means on said tubular shaft and said auxiliary shaftfor drivingly connecting the shafts to said grille means.

6. In a rotary cooker a casing including a top wall having an openingformed therein, means dividing said casing into separate compartments,one of said means comprising a heat reector and providing a centralbearing, a tubular shaft mounted in said casing, a burner means having aboss formation thereon and mounted on the upper end of said shaft anddisposed in close proximity to said heat reflector with the bossformation of said burner rotatably supported in said bearing, drivemeans at the lower end of said tubular shaft and means for coupling theshaft to the drive means for imparting rotatable movement to the shaft,an auxiliary shaft axially aligned with said tubular shaft and means forconnecting the same to the boss formation of said burner for rotationtherewith, a bearing means centrally supported within the opening formedin the top wall of the casing for rotatably supporting the upper end ofthe auxiliary shaft, grille means in each of said compartments, means onsaid tubular shaft and said auxiliary shaft for drvingly connecting theshafts to said grille means, each of said last named means comprising afriction cone adapted to be carried by said shafts and a spider castinghaving a central opening formed therein and adapted to frictionallyengage said cone for rotatable movement therewith.

7. An automatic cooker including a casing comprising a utility chamber,a broiler chamber and a preheating chamber, a hollow shaft constitutinga fuel conduit and arranged in said casing for rotatable movement withrespect thereto, a burner arranged on said shaft adjacent its upper end,drive means in said utility chamber for rotating said shaft, heatreflecting means forming a partition between the broiler chamber andsaid preheating chamber and adapted to receive the flame from saidburner, means for supporting said heat reflecting means and forproviding a bearing for the upper end of said shaft, a rotatable grillearranged in said broiler chamber, means carried by said shaft forrotatably supporting said grille for movement with said shaft, saidcasing having an opening in its upper wall adapted to communicate with astack, said shaft having an extension drivingly connected thereto forrotation therewith and extending to the upper wall of said casing, meanson said extension for rotatably supporting a plurality of grille plateswithin said preheating chamber, each of said last named means comprisinga friction cone adapted to be carried by said shaft, and a spidercasting having a central opening formed therein and adapted tofrictionally engage said cone for rotatable movement therewith, saidspider casting having flange means arranged to engage a'grille plate tosupport the latter for rotation. A

8. In an automatic cooker including a lcasing having an upper Wall andmeans dividing the casing into a utility chamber, a broiler chamber anda preheating chamber, said means comprising a lower baiile between saidutility chamber and said broiler chamber and having a central openingand a refractory baffle between said broiler chamber and said preheatingchamber and providing a passage at its peripheral edge, a burnerdisposed within said broiler chamber and adapted to project heatupwardly against said refractory baffle, and a stack on the upper wallof A said casing whereby to Acreate' a draft of air through said openingin said lower baffle and the passage at the peripheral edge of saidrefractory baille to permit passage of heated air from said burner tosaidpreheating chamber.

9. In a cooker, a casing, means rotatably supporting a burner withinsaid casing, said means comprising a tubular shaft, drive means for saidshaft, a centrally disposed bearing arranged in the casing and adaptedto rotatably support the upper end of said burner, a rotary grillearranged in said casing and adapted to support food containingcasseroles, means on said shaft for supporting said grille for rotarymovement adjacent said burner and heat refiecting means disposed in theplane of said bearing adjacent the upper end of said burner forreceiving heat from the latter and for deflecting and concentrating saidheat upon said rotary grille in the region of support of the foodcontaining casseroles.

l0. In a cooker, a casing having an entrance opening and an exit openingformed therein, means rotatably supporting a burner within said casing,said means comprising a tubular shaft, drive means for said shaft, acentrally disposed bearing arranged in the casing and adapted torotatably support the upper end of said burner, a rotary grille arrangedin said casing and adapted to support food containing casseroles, saidrotary grille being in a horizontal plane so as to be accessible throughsaid entrance and exit openings, means on said shaft for supporting saidgrille for rotary movement adjacent said burner, heat reflecting meansdisposed in the plane of said bearing adjacent the upper end of saidburner for receiving heat from the latter and for deflecting andconcentrating said heat upon said rotary grille in the region of supportof the food containing casseroles, and means for conveying a casserolefrom the interior of said casing to the exterior thereof when saidcasserole arrives adjacent said exit opening.

11. In a rotary cooker, a housing having a cylindrical vertical wall, abottom frame forming an open bottom Wall and a closed top wall having anopening formed therein coaxially with respect to said housing andadapted to communicate with a stack, a centrally disposed drive shaftand rotary shelves arranged thereon, means on said bottom frame fordriving the shaft, bearing means on said top wall Within said openingtherein for rotatably supporting the upper end of said shaft, meansspaced substantially above said bottom frame and forming a bottom wallfor a broiler chamber, said last-named means having an annular openingformed therein to permit passage therethrough of the drive shaft and toprovide a flue for the entrance of air, spaced substantially above saidmeans forming the bottom wall for the broiler chamber, to provide anupper wall for said broiler chamber and for diverting air rising throughsaid flue toward the inner peripheral wall of said housing prior to therising of said air to the opening formed in the top wall, and burnermeans arranged on said shaft within the broiler chamber and adapted toconvey fuel gas to said chamber for combustion with said influx of airthrough said flue.

12. An automatic lcooker including a casing comprising a utilitychamber, a broiler chamber and a preheating chamber, a hollow-shaftconstituting a fuel conduit and arranged in said casing for rotatablemovement with respect thereto, a burner arranged on said shaft adjacentits upper end, drive means in said utility chamber for rotating saidshaft, heat reecting means forming a, partition between the broilerchamber and said preheating chamber and adapted to receive the flamefrom said burner, means for supporting said heat reflecting means andfor providing a bearing for the upper end o f said shaft,

13. In a rotary cooker having a cylindrical casing and a centrallydisposed drive shaft arranged in said 'casing for rotatable movement,the combination with said drive shaft ofa rotatable grille and means onsaid drive shaft for yieldably coupling the latter to the grille andcomprising a cone arranged on said drive shaft, and a spider memberassociated with said rotatable grille and having frictional engagementwith said cone.

14, In a rotary cooker having a cylindrical casing and a centrallydisposed drive shaft arranged in said casing for rotatable movement, thecombination with said drive shaft of a rotatable grille and means onsaid drive shaft for yieldably coupling the latter to the grill, saidlast named means comprising a friction cone carried by said shaft and aspider casting having a central opening formed therein and adapted tofrictionally engage said cone for rotatable movement therewith andhaving radially extending arms removably supporting said rotatablegrille.

SIDNEY DAWSON.

